FC Augsburg drew 1-1 with 1. FC Union Berlin at the WWK Arena. Alexis Claude-Maurice scored the opener from 27 meters in first-half stoppage time, but Marin Ljubičić equalized despite being down to 10 men. Augsburg fans protested the unusual Thursday evening kickoff.
The match on Bundesliga matchday 17 took place on Thursday evening at the WWK Arena in Augsburg, drawing 27,267 spectators. FC Augsburg, 15th in the table with 15 points, hosted Union Berlin, ninth with 23 points. The game started evenly with many duels.
After about 30 minutes, Augsburg fans interrupted play by throwing small balls onto the pitch. A banner criticized the 'fragmented matchdays' in the league. The stoppage lasted several minutes.
Just before halftime, Alexis Claude-Maurice scored a stunning goal in the 45.+6 minute from 27 meters to make it 1-0. The 27-year-old Frenchman also hit the post with a free kick in the 59th minute. In the closing stages, Union's Derrick Köhn received a red card in the 89th minute for a rough foul.
Despite being down to 10 men, Union equalized in the 90.+2 minute through substitute Marin Ljubičić. 'In the end, the goal we scored was deserved. It shows the team has morale,' said Union's managing director Horst Heldt. Midfielder Rani Khedira praised the mentality: 'The morale is right, we'll gladly take the point.'
Augsburg also set a club record: For the first time since 2014, they went over 360 minutes without conceding a home goal. Union wrapped up the first half of the season a day after extending coach Steffen Baumgart's contract.
